Material gathering and loading machine



June 6,1950 F. CARTLIDGE MATERIAL GATHERING AND LOADING ucnma 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 2, 194'! INVENTOR. F1

4 T TORNEY June 6, 1950 F. CARTLIDGE MATERIAL GATHERING AND LOADING MACHINE 4 Sfieets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 2, 1947 .INVENTOR. j Enid @rilicgg, Y

Wei/2 Ar TOR/V5) MATERIAL GATHERING AND LOADING MACHINE Filed Oct. 2, 1947 4 Shaets-Shegt 3 FFM (Z ATTORNEY June 6, 1950 F. CARTLIDGE MATERIAL GATHERING AND LOADING momma 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 2. 1947 INVEN TOR. F'rwzfi (a/llage BY attorney Patented June 6, 1950 MATERIAL GATHERING AND LOADING MACHINE Frank Cartlidge, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Goodman Manufacturing Company, Chicago, I corporation of Illinois Application October 2, 1947, Serial No. 777,547

Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in material gathering and loading machines of the type adapted to load coal at the working face of a mine underground.

The principal objects of my invention are to provide a low loading machine operable in thin seams of coal and having a new and improved In carrying out my invention I provide twoaligned cylinders having connected oppositely acting pistons movable therein, arranged transversely beneath the conveyor and within 'the lateral limits of the loading machine so as not to increase the height or width of the machine,

and reacting against a fixed part of the machine,

for swinging the gathering head of the machine laterally.

These and other objects of my invention will appear fromtime to time as the following specification proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the forward part of a loading machine constructed in accordance with my invention, with certain parts thereof shown in longitudinal section in order to illustrate certain details of my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side view showing the rear part of the loading machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of the forward end of the loading machine, with certain parts thereof broken away and certain other parts shownin horizontal section in order to more clearly illustrate certain details of my invention;

Figure 4 is a view somewhat similar to Figure 3 but showing the inclined conveyor in one extreme position of lateral adjustment;

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially along line 55 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 8-8 of Figure 3.

The face loading machine shown in the drawings consists generally of a main frame I ll mounted on a pair of laterally spaced continuous traction tread devices II, II, and having an inclined gathering element l2 mounted on the forward end ofa forwardly extending inclined portion I: of a conveyor ll. Said conveyor extends upwardly in an inclined direction from the ground in advance of said main frame, rearwardly to and over the top thereof and beyond the rear end thereof in an overhanging position so as to discharge material, such as coal, into mine cars or the like. Said loading machine is of a type somewhat similar to that shown and described in my prior Patent No. 2,388,385, dated November 6, 1945, so is only herein shown and described insofar as is necessary to make my present invention clearly understandable.

' The gathering head I! is supported in advance of the main frame II for lateral movement with respect thereto and for vertical adjustment with respect thereto on a laterally movable support frame l5. Said support frame is pivotally mounted adjacent the forward end of the main frame ID on a boss I depending from an upper plate I! of said main frame and having engagement with a bottom plate ll thereof, and secured thereto by an elongated machine screw it. Said support frame is journaled on said boss on bearlugs 20, 20 disposed on opposite sides of a hub ii of a gear sector 22, mounted on said boss and held from movement with respect thereto, as will hereinafter more clearly appear as this specification proceeds.

The support frame I5 also has two laterally spaced forwardly extending upwardly inclined arms 25, 25 havin pins 26, 26 extending outwardly therefrom adjacent the upper ends thereof and forming pivotal supports for the forwardly extending inclined portion it of the conveyor ll. Two fluid pressure cylinders and pistons 21, 21 are suitably connected between the lower forward portion of said support frame and the underside of the inclined portion of said conveyor, for moving said conveyor vertically about the axis of said pins 26, 26. A pair of pre-loaded compression springs 29. 29, loaded to tend to move said inclined conveyor upwardly, are also provided to aid said cylinders and pistons in olevating said conveyor and to cushion said conveyor when moving downwardly and permit the forward end of the gathering and loading element to float along the ground when fluid under pressure is released from said cylinders and pistons.

The gathering head I! herein shown is of a well known form of endless chain and gathering arm type and includes an inclined apron 30 mounted on theforward end of the inclined portion I! of the conveyor II and extending in ad vance thereof and across tlie front end thereof.

3 'Apairofchainmndingmembers II. II arcmounted on the upper side of said apron, as usual, so as to extend along opposite sides of and forwardly of said conveyor.- Said chain guiding members form guides for endless chains (not shown) having gathering arms 32, 32 projecting laterally therefrom and orbitally moved about said guides by said chains, to pick up loose material from the ground and move it onto said conveyor.

The conveyor I4 is herein shown as being of a well known form of center strand endless chain and flight type of laterally flexible conveyor having a plurality of flights 33, 33 pivotally connected to adjacent ends of sections of an endless chain 34 extending along the center of said conveyor, to permit said chain to flex laterally upon lateral flexible movement of the conveyor. Said conveyor is clearly shown and described in my prior Patent No. 2,388,385, so need'not herein be shown or described in detail.

Referring now in particular to the means for swinging the support frame I and the gathering head l2 laterally, two aligned transversely extending fluid pressure cylinders 35, 35 are mounted in opposite upright side walls 38, 38 of said support frame. A flange- 31 is herein shown as being formed intermediate the end of each of said cylinders. Said flanges abut the outer sides of said side walls and are secured thereto by cap screws 39, 39. Said cylinders are open at their inner ends and are closed at their outer ends by cap pieces 40, ll. A piston ll is slidably mounted in each of said cylinders. An integral y formed piston rod 42 having rack teeth 43 formed on its rear face is herein shown as connecting said pistons together. Said rack teeth are adapted to mesh with the forwardly facing teeth of the gear sector 22. The gear sector 22 has an arm 44 extending rearwardly from said hub, which is secured to the main frame II) by means of a spacing member 45 secured to and extending upwardly from the lower plate It and a cap screw 45 threaded in said arm and spacing member. A hearing member 41 is secured. to a transverse forward end wall 49 of said support frame l5 by cap screws 50, 50 and extends inwardly from said wall and slidably engages and backs up the piston rod 42, to prevent deformation thereof caused by the forces exerted thereagainst by the teeth of the gear sector 22. Scraping devices 5|, 5| extend inwardly from the rearward end portions of the side walls 38, 8B and have inner ends conforming to the arc of the outer faces of the teeth of the gear sector 22, to scrape coal from the teeth of said gear sector and prevent it from getting between the teeth of said gear sector and said rack and within the open portions of the cylinders 35, )5 (see Figure 3).

A, suitable pump, fluid storage tank and control valves .(not shown), and suitable fluid connections (not shown) leading from said valves, may be provided to control the admission of fluid under pressure to and the release of fluid under pressure from the head ends of the cylinders 35,

' 3,5, and cause said cylinders to move laterally in one direction or another and turn said support frame about the axis of the boss IS in an obvious manner.

It may be seen from the foregoing that a compact fluid operated means has been provided of a novel and simplifled construction, so arranged as to. efllciently swing the gathering head of the machine from side to side, to pick up loose material from the far corners of the working place,

without increasing the overall dimensions of the machine, and making it possible for the machine to operate in thin seams of coal where the props are closely posted.

While I have herein shown and described one form in which my invention maybe embodied, it will be understood that the construction thereof and the arrangement of the various parts may be altered without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting my invention to the speciflc embodiment illustrated, excepting as it may be limited in the appended claims.

I claim as'my invention:

1. In a low vein face loading machine, a selfpropelled main frame, an inclined conveyor at the front of said main frame, a gathering head at the forward end of said conveyor, a laterally movable support frame pivotally mounted on said main frame adjacent. the forward end thereof for movement about a vertical axis and having the forward portion of said conveyor transversely pivoted thereto, and means for swinging said inclined conveyor and gathering head laterally including a cylinder extending transversely of said support frame and secured thereon against pivotal movement with respect thereto, said cylinder being closed at its outer end and open at its inner end, a piston movable in said cylinder, a piston rod extending inwardly from said piston and movable transversely of said conveyor, a stationary reaction member secured to said main frame and having an arcuate engaging face, the center of the arc of which is coaxial with the pivotal axis of said support frame, an interengaging connection between said piston rod and said reaction member at the point of tangency of said piston rod with said arcuate engaging face for laterally moving said support frame and conveyor upon the admission of fluid under pressure to said cylinder and a bearing member slidably engaging the side of said piston rod opposite from said reaction member and vreacting thereagainst during lateral swinging movement of said support frame.

2. In a low vein face loading machine, a selfpropelled main frame, an inclined conveyor at the front of said main frame, a gathering head at the forward end of said conveyor, a laterally movable support frame pivotally mounted on said main frame adjacent the forward end thereof for movement about a vertical axis and having the forward portion of said conveyor transversely pivoted thereto, and means for swinging said inclined conveyor and gathering head laterally including a cylinder extending transversely of said support frame and secured thereto, said cylinder being closed at its outer end and open at its inner end, a piston movable in said cylinder, a piston rod extending from said piston and movable transversely of said conveyor, a gear segment secured to said main frame and having teeth cut on a pitch circle coaxial with the axis of swinging movement of said support frame, a rack asv sociated with said piston rod and meshing with the teeth of said gear segment for laterally moving said support frame and conveyor upon the admission of fluid under pressure to said cylinder and a bearing member slidably engaging the side of said piston rod opposite from said rack and reacting thereagainst during lateral swinging movement of said support frame. 1

3. In a low vein face loading machine, a selfpropelled main frame, an inclined conveyor at the front of said main frame, a gathering head at the forward end of said conveyor, a laterally connecting said pistons together, a stationary reaction member secured to said main frame and having an arcuate engaging face, the center of the arc of which is coaxial with the pivotal axis of said support framegan interengaging connection between said piston rod and the arcuate engaging face of said reaction member for laterally moving said support frame and conveyor upon the admission of fluid under pressure to either of said cylinder and a bearing member slidably engaging the side of said piston rod opposite from said reaction member and reacting thereagainst during lateral swinging movement of said support frame.

4. In a low vein face loading machine, a selfpropelled main frame, an inclined conveyor at the front of said main frame, a gathering head at the forward end of said conveyor, a laterally movable support frame pivotally mounted on said main frame adjacent the forward end thereof for movement about a vertical axis-and having the forward portion of said conveyor transversely pivoted thereto, and means for swinging said inclined conveyor and gathering head laterally including two aligned cylinders extending transversely of said support frame and secured to opposite sides thereof, means for closing the outer.

ends of said cylinders, pistons movable within said cylinders and a common piston rod connecting said pistons together, a gear segment secured to said main frame and having its teeth facing said piston rod and out on a pitch circle coaxial with the axis of swinging movement of said support frame, and a rack associated with said piston rod and meshing with the teeth of said gear segment for laterally moving said support frame and conveyor upon the admission of fluid under pressure to either of said cylinders. 5. In a low vein face loading machine, a selfpropelled main frame, an inclined conveyor at the front of said main frame, a gathering head at the forward end of said conveyor, a laterally movable support frame pivotally mounted on said main frame adjacent the forward end thereof for movement about a vertical axis and having the forward portion of said conveyor transversely pivoted thereto, and means for swinging said inclined conveyor and gathering head laterally including two aligned cylinders extending transversely of said support frame and secured to opposite side thereof, means for closing the outer ends of said cylinders, pistons movable within said cylinders and a common piston rod connecting said pistons together, a gear segment secured to said mainframe and having its teeth facing saidipiston rod and cut on a pitch circle coaxial with the axis of swinging movement of said support frame, a rack associated with said piston rod and meshing with the teeth of said gear segment for laterally moving said support frame and conveyor upon the admission of fluid under pressure to either of said cylinders, and a bearing member secured to said support frame and slid- -ably engaging the opposite side of said piston rod from said rack at the point where the teeth of said gear segment mesh with the teeth of said rack in all positions of said conveyor with respect to said gear segment and reacting against said rack during lateral swinging movement of said support frame.

FRANK CARTLIDGEL REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 2,388,385 Cartlidge Nov. 6, 194,5 

